Gladstone Media acquisition is ‘significant step’ in calendar publisher’s international growth
Carousel Worldwide has taken another step towards its aim of becoming “the largest calendar publishing business in the world” with the acquisition of US-based Gladstone Media.
The American calendar publisher has a range of over 40 titles which will be arriving in the UK for the first time from the business based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
“This is an exciting and significant step in our international growth,” Carousel md Steve Plackett said. “Gladstone’s unique range of calendars is very complementary to our own range, and it’s been a pleasure to work with founder Leonard Phillips in order to make this happen.”
Carousel Calendars has been expanding its distribution worldwide, particularly in the US, and Steve said they welcomed this opportunity to acquire Gladstone Media as both companies share very similar values with design, imagery and photography, as well as having environmental and sustainability issues at the heart of all products, which has helped smooth the whole process of integration.
Licensing and new business development director Martin Rees-Davies said the move is “all part of the company’s growth strategy for North America and worldwide”, and explained the timing of the deal means there will be only a limited distribution to the UK for 2025 product this year, which will be sold in Calendar Club and Gardners.
Until now there had been no UK distribution of Gladstone’s titles, which include Deep Space, Haiku, Puppies & Friends, and Samurai Cats, and the whole 2026 dated product range will be available in Britain and worldwide.
The acquisition was announced on Thursday, 25 April, with Leonard, who also acts as photographer on many of his calendars, explaining: “It’s been a long, strange trip from the single title Gladstone Media began with in 1995, to the scores of titles we now produce.
“It is difficult to let go, yet I am honoured and excited to pass the reins to Carousel Calendars. Steve has been great throughout the acquisition process, and we at Gladstone Media look forward to the support, scale and worldwide reach that comes with joining the team at Carousel.”
The Exeter-based publisher is part-owned by Calendar Club USA which, with the Go! Retail and www.calendars.com brands, is the largest calendar retailer in the States, and Steve said their collective experience “will ensure Carousel Worldwide’s dominant position within the market”, as well continuing the presence of the Gladstone Media brand.
Gideon Schlessinger, Calendar Club USA ceo, added: “We are delighted to welcome Gladstone to our business and portfolio. Leonard has consistently been one of the industry’s most innovative publishers, always bringing interesting and often fun, fresh content to the Gladstone titles.
“We have loved Gladstone as a supplier and know we will love the brand as a part of the family.”
Back in the UK, Carousel and its sister greetings, stationery and gift company Otter House have announced a new collaboration with The London Studio to produce an exclusive calendar title for Oxfam.
They have licensed The London Studio-created brand Dreamadelic for a 2025 square wall calendar on behalf of the charitable humanitarian organisation, which takes its inspiration from the current trend for retro 1960s and 70s psychedelia design, but gives it a modern twist.
The Roll With It calendar will be available in Oxfam shops and online from October and the charity’s lifestyle buyer Samantha Gunn said: “This colourful collaboration is a welcome addition to our important and popular output of calendars and stationery. Not only do sales help us with our campaigns but the Dreamadelic designs from The London Studio are truly original and striking. I’m sure it will be very popular as a seasonal gift, for record-keeping and just as a work of art.”
It’s the latest link between Carousel and The London Studio, which has already licensed its Happiness Club brand for a 2024 planner, diary and wall calendar, as well as contributed to the publisher’s RSPB product for both 2024 and 2025.
